Death Certificate Error? Help, Please .....

Rodeo · Post by **Rodeo** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 2:55 am

Is it possible that the names of the deceased’s parents cited on a statutory death certificate could be erroneous?

William Paterson (a former magistrate of Hamilton) died on 8 May 1858 but his death was not recorded until 14 May 1858. His age is recorded as 72 and his parents’ names on the death certificate are William Paterson (farmer) and Ann Paterson (maiden name Roger).

I have been unable to find an OPR marriage record for William and Ann Roger or a birth record for their son, William. However, I have found a marriage record for Gavin Paterson and Janet Roger (m. 1862 in Cambuslang). I believe that they are William’s parents, as they had a son named William born in 1787 in Hamilton. Moreover, this is borne out by Scottish naming patterns.

William married Margaret Paton in Hamilton. William’s eldest son (normally named after the father’s father) is Gavin Paterson and his second eldest son is John (normally named after the mother’s father, Margaret Paton’s father being John Paton). The third son is William, customarily named after the father. William’s daughters are Janet (presumably named after William’s mother, Janet Roger) and Jean (named after Margaret Paton’s mother, Jean Gavin). It all fits perfectly in terms of Scottish naming patterns and the genealogical information I have gleaned but NOT in terms of the information recorded on William’s death certificate.

If William’s mother was indeed Ann Roger, why are there no daughters named Ann and why would his eldest son be named Gavin if William’s father’s name was William?

On the other hand, am I making too many assumptions?

As William Paterson (1786-1858) was a magistrate in Hamilton, his son Gavin (1826-1889) was Provost of Hamilton and his son Gavin Paterson (1866-1934) was a well-known architect in Hamilton, I thought the names of William’s parents might be on record at the Hamilton Reference Library. I wrote to the librarian but have had no response.

Has anyone encountered a similar problem? Is there anyone researching the same Paterson line who can help with this, please?

Cheers,

Linda

ninatoo · Post by **ninatoo** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 5:04 am

Hi Rodeo,

Yes the names of parents can be in error on a death registration, because the informant may not have known for sure who they were.

I try to determine who the informant was, and whether they may have known the deceased parents personally (ie a son of William may have been the informant...likely he knew grandparent's names - but again NOT always true).

The naming patterns weren't always adhered to, so it is not a reliable source of identifying the father's name. Some people were very strict about it, others very lax, and it was by no means compulsory.

Have you been able to obtain any proof of William's parentage through his marriage? I know it would only be an OPR record, and they are often lacking in detail, but then again, some are detailed according to the GRO.

Another source might be a monumental inscription, which may name his parents, or he even may be buried with his parents, if you can figure out where he was buried.

It sounds like he came from a rather well off family, so there might be records of land holdings somewhere...but I am no expert by any means...just trying to help. Maybe there will be something in the 1787 Glasgow Directory? Yes I know it isn't Hamilton, but just maybe it will offer a clue..hehe.

http://www.amostcuriousmurder.com/Jones.htm Sorry about the name of the link...don't know why it is called that!

Nina

Rodeo · Post by **Rodeo** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 6:42 am

Hi Nina

Thanks for your reply. The informant was William's son, William, who was present at his death. However, as the death wasn't registered until six days after the event, it puts into question whether William was, in fact, the informant, don't you think? Yes, I know that Scottish naming patterns weren't always adhered to but they were in my family for many generations. That is what tends to lend credence to my belief that Gavin Paterson and Janet Roger were William's parents -- but then, of course, I don't want to leap to any conclusions.

I was very disappointed to receive the OPR extract of William's marriage to Margaret Paton, which contained no parental or other useful information whatsoever. So, in its lack of detail, that was no help at all.

I know that William was buried in the parish churchyard, Hamilton, as certified on his death certificate. Do you know if anyone do lookups of the parish churchyard cemetery, Hamilton?

As for records of land holdings, these were inventoried in William's will, of which I have a copy (and those of two of his sons). The obituary of William's son, Gavin, notes: 'Provost (Gavin) Paterson was in every sense of the word a Hamiltonian, sprung as he was from good old stock, whose character and industry added prestige to our burgh when it was yet in its infancy. His father, William Paterson, was a successful builder and resided for some time in the locality at present taken up by the Commercial Hotel, where the deceased was born onn 28th February 1826...'

I had a look on the net for the Commercial Hotel which, apparently, was renamed the Town Hotel. I am very curious to know what was there before and what that part of Hamilton was originally called. Presumably, William's parents would have lived there if, as the obituary says, they were Hamiltonians for many generations. In fact, my own grandfather (William's great grandson) was from Hamilton.

I had a look in the Glasgow directory, as you suggested, but couldn't find anything.

Anyway, thanks a lot for your help, Nina.

Cheers,

Rodeo

Post by **AndrewP** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 9:13 am

Hi Linda,

Have a looka th the Wills section on www.ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk and search for Gavin Paterson. Without any date or court parameters, there are only 8 results, one of which is in 1889 in Hamilton.

He is described there as "Calenderer, Glasgow, residing at Lochside House, Hamilton, d. 10/02/1889 at Hamilton, testate". According to Chambers dictionary, a calenderer was an accountant of some sort.

This will is likely to be worth the 5 pounds (or equivalent in your local currency).

I didn's see any obvious results for William Paterson.

All the best,

Andrew Paterson

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 9:59 am

Hi Linda

I'n not quite sure why you are concerned about the gap of 6 days between the death and the registration. Such a gap is quite normal. From memory the law allowed 10 days after the death.

The informant had to be present at the registrar's office to be shown as such. It was the strong Scottish tradition for the eldest surviving son to be the informant.

The Cambuslang marriage that you have found is tempting, - Gavin could well have been from Hamilton, as the tradition was for the marriage to take place in the parish of the bride. Does the OPR marriage/banns entry not even give some information of his place of residence?

As commented by others it's far from unusual for all the stresses surrounding the handling of a death, to lead to wrong information being supplied, never mind the fact that an amazing number of sons didn't know the full information on their grandparents.

At least you are dealing here with someone well known, so that there have to be could chances of making a confirmed link via MIs, property records (sasines), and local material. I'd be disappointed if the deceased William didn't appear in other local records, e.g. burgess records for the burgh of Hamilton (if they are extant), or less formal records such as the lists of local worthies which were commonly produced at the time.

Then there's newspapers. I'd be near certain that there woud have been an obituary for someone so well known, with a good chance that it will contain the words that you need "William PATERSON, son of ............ PATERSON" .............

Finally, there has to be a reasonable chance that the deceased William was a Mason, and they have now made access easier to their records, see - http://www.grandlodgescotland.com/glos/ ... uiries.htm

It was common for a new mason to be introduced by a close family member, often father or uncle.

David

Post by **joette** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 10:46 am

Hi Linda I have just had an experience of this very thing.In one of the instances the incorrect info was supplied by myself-bereavement does funny things to your memory.
I decided to look for the Death of my GGreat-Aunt whilst at NRH.I knew it was after a certain date as she had survived her sister.I found it & her son had named her Parents as two completely different people.The Father's christian name was wrong,his occupation too.The Mother had been given the same name as her Daughter which was wrong.I had the opportunity to correct this & it is now being given an RCE.
I had been the informant on my Granny's Death Certificate(which I cannot remember at all!!!)I have misspelled her Christian name.